Just as we thought this year’s major releases were all wrapped up, editors will now be desperately re-writing their “collabs of 2020” lists as Gucci and The North Face unveil their highly-anticipated collaboration. Since the mighty duo announced their partnership in September via a series of mysterious trailers posted to Gucci's Instagram, everything surrounding the drop has been kept tightly under wraps. Now, Gucci has released the first images of the collection and, you’ll be glad to know, it’s everything we hoped for.
As we predicted, the partnership plays on their combined heritage, blending Gucci’s penchant for maximalist luxury with The North Face’s expertise in performance gear. And it is no small affair – there is everything you need for a seriously extravagant outdoor venture – with Nuptse-like down jackets in abundance as well goose down skirts, bib dresses, shirts, and even a onesie that looks like its been lifted right off Vail’s slopes in the ‘70s. Alongside apparel, accessories including two retro-ish backpacks, waist bags, knitted bobble hats, bucket hats, a pair of luxurious leather hiking boots and, for the true camper (or anyone seeking maximum swag points), there’s even a tent and sleeping bag.
In true Gucci style, the color palette is packed with vivid colors that make the collection distinctly more runway-able than most high fashion x high performance jaunts. Whimsical florals recalling the collection's intended place of use, vibrant primary colors, prints inspired by The North Face garments from the ‘70s, and new spins on Gucci’s monogram adorn jackets, backpacks, skirts, and bucket hats. So if you were reckless enough to wear the collection to hike a mountain, you’d be hard to lose in a snowstorm.
While the North Face is no stranger to collabs, the partnership marks the first time that Gucci has partnered with another brand while under the tenure of Alessandro Michele. The choice of partner isn’t as surprising as you might first think considering Gucci’s recent environmentally considered moves to become carbon neutral and ditch the fashion calendar in favor of bi-annual seasonless collections.
Furthermore, the link-up comes just six months after the Italian house released “Off the Grid”, a collection made solely of recycled, regenerated, or bio-based materials and the first installment in Michele’s “Gucci Circular Lines” initiative to reduce raw material use and facilitate circular production. Alongside Jane Fonda, Little Nas X, and King Princess, the campaign featured explorer and environmentalist David de Rothschild and the setting was an urban treehouse.
The North Face has been taking strides too in reducing its impact on the environment and, like the “Off the Grid” collection, the collaboration's accessories make heavy use of ECONYL®, a nylon fabric made from regenerated materials.
Considering nature became one of the few places of solace for so many in 2020, Gucci’s venturing into outdoor territory makes sense and couldn't have come at a better time, even if the greenest ground we expect to be scaling in a Gucci x The North Face jacket will be Central Park.
Release Date & Where to Buy:
December 23: Raffle opens for early access to the drop. January 4: Selfridges London. January 9: Gucci stores in Paris, Milan, and Madrid, and online purchasing will open for raffle winners. January 11: Gucci's Moscow store. January 15: Gucci's Dubai store. January 22: Online at Gucci and The North Face.
Click here to explore the collection and enter the raffle.
